I wrote my reviews for Hell, Michigan years ago so I guess I'll make my review #666 about the…read moreMothman Museum. That creepy cryptid looks pretty demonic in a lot of the ways he's represented in here, especially with those glowing red eyes. Mothman Museum is cheekily billed as The World's Only Mothman Museum and you quickly see why. You have to be hardcore into the lore to actually be impressed by this small museum and not be seeing this at least a little tongue in cheek. It's all in good fun, though, except for the Silver Bridge collapse which is actually pretty harrowing and tragic. Admission is only $5 and if you really want to make it worth your while you can sit and watch the entire documentary in the little viewing area. I was pretty wore out from the road and was trying to make Akron by nightfall so I only watched a little. I meant to see if it's on YouTube just like I've been meaning to watch The Mothman Prophecies. Ha! Predictive text suggested Propaganda instead of Prophecies. That's pretty funny. The gift shop is almost half as big as the museum and it's really the highlight, easily outshining a bunch of old newspaper clippings. All the Mothman fanart is fun, too, but it seems like it's really to whet your appetite for buying souvenirs. And there's actually two or three other shops in town selling Mothman t-shirts. An old coworker I knew had 2 Mothman t-shirts and I thought that was so excessive but then I saw a design I liked better than the one I bought her in another shop and was tempted to do the same thing as Zach. I didn't but I kind of get it now. The statue outside has a separate listing here and I gave it a separate review but I will say it's so flipped out and such a powerful photo/selfie magnet that it does make this small kitschy museum seem more worthwhile. My theory is that the teens who originally encountered Mothman were time travelers who saw a future Point Pleasant that was utterly devastated, more abandoned than Gary or East St. Louis. So they came back to the 60s and came up with Mothman so at least this town would have something to hang its hat on. So there would at least be this museum, a couple gift shops, Mothman indoor black light mini-golf next door (!), etc. They went back to the future and said their work was done and that's probably the best that can be done for Point Pleasant. That's my Tale from the Cryptid and I'm sticking to it.

We came to Point Pleasant for the Mothman experience and we were not disappointed. The museum…read moreitself is small and quirky and maybe a little more underwhelming than you would anticipate. It has displays on the Mothman sightings from the '60s that basically put this tiny town on the map . It also has some coverage on the Silver Bridge collapse including newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts and quite a few props from The Mothman Prophecy movie which was fun to see up close . The giant mothman hanging from the ceiling in the hallway was probably the most fun we had inside the museum . If you're into cryptids you'll probably love it, although I will admit I was hoping for a little more. Still, the price is right and they have a nice little gift shop in the front as well. Most importantly for me, the shop and the museum are dog friendly. It also stays very busy. We visited on a random weekday in winter and the shop got so packed that at one point that we ended up stepping outside because our dog is small and I was genuinely worried she'd get stepped on. We sat on the bench out front for a while and listened to the Fallout soundtrack play through the speakers. Honestly, that little break and the ambiance of this cool little town set to some pretty groovy tunes might have been one of my favorite parts of the whole stop. When you visit, don't forget to cross the street and check out the iconic Mothman statue. In the opposite direction you will find the point pleasant trading company which also has lots of treasures to check out as well. The gift shop here is decent on its own and I did find a couple of shirts that I really wanted but I was low on cash at that particular moment, so I figured I would order them online later. It turns out that they have some merchandise here that is exclusively licensed by Bethesda to the museum, so buying it from the museum or ordering it from the museum and having it shipped is the only way to get it anyway. Learn from my mistake and just put everything you want on a credit card. Great advice right?

We loved this tour! It's only $12, and we were treated to a video introduction and then a private…read moretour of the house with tons of information about when it was originally built and also about the latest renovation. Everyone we dealt with was so friendly and knowledgeable. We would love to go back and see it decked out for Christmas!

I've lived in Marietta for 35 years and this was my first visit. Was always thinking I'd do it…read morelater when guests came. Why did I wait! It was so enjoying to hear about the house and its history. It's a great gem for our small historic town.

I went home for Christmas and took my great nieces and nephews to the Highland Museum & Discovery…read moreCenter. This museum wasn't open when I lived in the area, so I was excited to check it out. We first walked through the section of country music artists from Kentucky. Some popular ones on exhibit included the Judd's, Loretta Lynn and Billy Ray Cyrus. We learned about the early civilization of native Americans in Kentucky. There was a Kentucky clothes exhibit that dated pretty far back and up through the 80's. Then we checked out the basement, which was a total kid's zone. They loved it! There was a McDonald's, an old phone booth, dark tunnels for exploring. They all loved the boat cockpit which included all the controlles. There was a front porch with a swing. A puppet area and even an old piano. I was impressed with the museum. We went in December, and there were lots of beautiful Christmas trees and ginger bread houses on display in the atrium that were created and donated by local businesses. There was an area for the kids to write letters to Santa. This is a perfect place for kids to learn and play. And yes, the adults can learn too;)

What a cool place in the middle of ....Ashland?!?! Not far from WV in Ashland, KY lies this place…read more It is where my children got to be: astronauts, tree huggers, scientists, supermarket clark, bankers, archaeologists, and a McDonald's cashier. By looking through the front window, you would never know that this place has a bottom floor filled with a ton of things that will help a child's mind run wild with creative ideas. Some of the local schools and companies donated towards this project and it is great. My favorite part was the space shuttle area where we could talk into microphones and make our voices sound different. I was talking from the "headquarters" and my children were responding from the space shuttle in space. They loved digging for the dinosaur bones too in the rubber pit (which is very shallow--maybe 4 inches deep). So with every great experience, I like to point out something that needs improvement. For this place, the bathrooms need to be updated/worked on/fixed. In the men's room the toilet was broken (not that I went in there). In the woman's bathroom, 1 stall was out of order and the other toilet leaked from the base when you flushed it. This is gross! On the main floor of the building they had some Christmas trees displayed and well as a gingerbread house contact. Oh, they also have this amazing sound wall where you touch the different shapes in order to make different noises. They also have a country music exhibit. Who knew that my man, Billy Ray, shook his achy breaky heart in this town. same with the Judd's. I wonder if this is where Miley comes to visit too. Anyways, when you have nothing to do when visiting this area...now you do!

It's hard to see everything in just one trip. Wall to wall art, machines, and artifacts. This space…read moreis well-arranged and curated. It's a definite necessity for anyone coming through Gallipolis or Point Pleasant.

From the owner: Please call ahead for a tour of our unique collection of antique and vintage tattoo machines, art…read moreand memorabilia. Also, our famous giant tattoo machine. All guides work on a volunteer basis so, hours of operation are subject to change. Please call ahead to schedule a tour.

Had a nice visit to the museum with the wife and kids. Lots of interesting stuff inside and plenty…read moreto look at for a couple of hours. The short concrete trail was well maintained but couldn't make out where the branching trails were. Everything seemed to be overgrown which was kind of a bummer. Really enjoyed the firearms collection. Staff were very friendly and gave us a little tour of the conservatory which the kids loved. They also enjoyed the craft room and the gift shop. Would recommend it for a chill day out.

When I was at the museum, Hurricane Helene came through there in September 2024. The staff was…read moresuper nice to me, as the electric kept going on and off, as did the alarm. What little bit of the museum that I got to see was amazingly beautiful. I only got to stay at the museum for a little bit, because they were closing the museum at the time. The staff allowed me to stay inside with them long enough for the storm to finish blowing through. I hope to come back to visit again soon, because I would really like to get to go through the museum to see it in its entirety.

This is a hidden jewel--or perhaps just a rather isolated one. Even if you live in Cincinnati or…read moreCleveland, this is so worth the drive. The contemporary exhibitions are excellent and the collection of artifacts from nearby Indian mounds is extraordinary! Admission is free. I spent ages looking at things. Fascinating. Sorry I'm not posting more pictures of the modern gallery--just go see for yourself, those exhibitions change all the time.

Excellent free museum. Rotates some exhibits with other centers. Kid friendly, great air…read moreconditioning, immaculate restrooms. Walking distance from Loft coffeehouse (do them together!)

If you're cruising through South Charleston and spot a big grassy hill tucked between antique shops…read moreand quiet streets, that's the Criel Mound. It's worth a stop. It's not flashy, but there's something grounding about standing next to a structure built over 2,000 years ago by the aboriginal people. The steps leading up are wide and gentle, and once you reach the top, you get a surprisingly peaceful view of the neighborhood. It's a quick visit. The mound itself is steeped in mystery and history. Archaeologists found 13 skeletons inside, including a central figure surrounded by others. There's a small park around the mound with interpretive signs that give you just enough context to spark curiosity. Some locals say horse races were once held around it, and there's even talk of burials that might represent alliances between different tribes. It's wild to think about how much has happened on that patch of earth, and how little we still know. The Criel Mound stands to quietly anchor the town. Kids run up the steps, people are walking dogs, and there's me, pausing to read the plaques. There is a sense of reverence here if you feel it. It's not at all a playground. [Review 569 of 2025 - 154 in West Virginia - 24130 overall]

The Criel Mound is a historic and cultural gem nestled in South Charleston, WV…read more The small park which houses it has plenty of street parking available and several interpretive signs around the mound explaining its history, importance, and what archaeologists discovered inside the mound when excavating. The mound is the second largest Adena mound in West Virginia and is believed to have been developed between 250 and 150 B.C. The Criel Mound was originally one of 50 mounds and prehistoric earthworks located in WV but unfortunately most have since been destroyed due to industrialization. It's definitely worth a visit (plan on about 30 minutes) if you're in the area.

I was here for a tour of the Athens Lunatic Asylum. It was a very hot day and it felt good inside…read morethe art museum. Full disclosure: I didn't get a lot of time to look around, but it looked very well organized and interesting. However, I was more interested in the former asylum and the arcitechture of the building. If you want to see my full blog on my tour experience go to www.phantommemorandum.com Very interesting place in Athens. I would recommend a visit for sure!

Interesting place the place has a lot of history but parking sucks looks Lloyd they shrunk rack…read moreparking space buY 2 feed so your parked on to of each other if you drive a pickup forget it there just not enough room

I made a trip down to Charleston with my gold fish's Siberian husky and enjoyed every moment of it…read more My brain was starving for a history lesson, though, so I went downtown to the Culture Center and ballooned it with some of the most interesting facts I've ever heard about the Capitol Building(s). The museum is free, which is a plus. I couldn't bring the dog in though, so cracked the windows and put on some Baha Men for him. I also walked upstairs, looked at the displays and was instantly greeted by a fine young man with a vibrant smile and excellent hair. What a great surprise. The car was gone.

I was in town for work and my flight didn't leave till 6 so I had lots of time to explore the…read moremuseum. Love how you start millions of years ago and progress to modern age. Each room is full of artifacts and information for each era. Easily you could spend a full day looking and exploring everything. And the best part is it's free!

I've taken my daughters on The Anchorage Mansion haunted tour twice now. We did a regular guided…read moretour first and the second time I brought my sister and niece with us for a guided flashlight tour. Before the tour, the group is gathered in the gift shop while you wait on everyone to arrive. The gift shop is filled with spooky gifts, apparel and Knick knacks that, as a lover of Halloween myself, it's hard to say no to. The ladies who give the tour are dressed up adorably to fit in with the time period of the mansion. They are knowledgeable and informative and are happy to answer any questions about the mansion and the spirits that reside in it. The hidden Marietta tours are one of the main reasons why Marietta, Ohio stays on top of my favorite spooky cities to visit.

I went on my 3rd Hidden Marietta Ghost Trek yesterday. This one was Front Street. Check in is…read morealways easy and an easy place to find. Our guide (I can't remember her name but had red hair) was very friendly, silly and informative. She said it was her first time doing the tour alone but did a fabulous job despite having to look at reference cards a few times. I genuinely loved her personality and liked the tour wasn't super serious, I felt like I could ask a question at any point. My husband and I grew up in the area and both enjoy learning hidden facts about the town. We will go on another closer to Halloween I'm sure!